24hrs: iHeartRadio On The Verge Artist

1 month ago

Nobody saw it coming, but that’s usually the way it goes with every revolution.

In 2016, a new musical wave began to quietly build under just a name—24HRS. As songs like “Time,” “U Know,” “Back For Me,” and “Deepend” generated millions of Soundcloud plays in a few months’ time, chatter erupted throughout the worlds of hip-hop and R&B. Who was behind that mysterious social media moniker? Was it an established artist trolling the system or a brand-new voice breaking through?

{"position1": {"id": "31279573", "type": "artist"}}

As for the latter question, it turned out to be a little bit of both. The man born Robert Davis and previously known as the rapper Royce Rizzy decided to flip the script, re-envisioning his sound, style, and even his name…

“I needed a fresh start,” he exclaims. “I didn’t want anyone to judge me based on my past incarnation. I decided to find a different name, reinvent myself, rebirth who I am, and change everything from the content to the type of music. I wanted people to love the music before they had a chance to find out my identity or see me. There was nothing else, so they had to give it an honest ear. I put those first four songs out without telling anyone.”

Before hitting the road on a 44-date 2017 tour with Blackbear, 24HRS holed up in Hollywood’s Paramount Recording Studio to record his Night Shift EP over the course of just seven days. Powered by his seismic vocal delivery, towering falsetto, and a knack for arranging seductively dark beats, the eight-song set illustrates every facet of his dynamic presence.

“I needed a project to go on tour, so I decided to stay up every night for a week and make all of these records,” Twenty explains. “I tried to slow down a little bit and really think about what I was doing. It’s 2017 meets early 2000s R&B.”

Produced by Hit-Boy [Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem], the first single “What You Like” [feat. Wiz Khalifa & Ty Dolla $ign] instantly racked up 2.4 million Soundcloud plays. Over iridescent beats, his neon croon takes hold between fiery guest spots from Ty and Wiz.

“It’s the summer anthem for the world,” he grins.

From the airy “real R&B” of opener “FAVORITE” to the trap-inspired boom of “ADDRESS,” Night Shift could be the perfect soundtrack to any evening worldwide from the artist’s birthplace of Oakland all the way to Tokyo—the site of his high school.

In the end, 24HRS knows exactly who he is, and that’s why he has the power to change the game.

“I’m finally comfortable and confident in myself,” he leaves off. “I’ve been through a lot, and I want to show people they can be whatever they want to be in life. I’m living proof.”